StubHub Sues Ticketmaster Over Alleged Hard-Line Resale Rules

StubHub is suing rival Ticketmaster for anti-competitive behavior relating to the resale rules of Golden State Warriors tickets. According to StubHub, resellers of Golden State Warriors ticket holders must resell tickets through Ticketmaster's resale service TM+ or risk losing not only the tickets but also season passes and admission to Warriors playoff games. Ticketmaster says it "does not force any customer to resell tickets on any particular platform and will vigorously defend these specious charges." StubHub's Glenn Lehrman contends tickets are "a piece of property like anything else, not a license granted to a buyer, as Ticketmaster's alleged treatment of the season tickets implies. But even if it were, there is precedence in antitrust law." In responding to the suit, Ticketmaster says "NBA teams like the Golden State Warriors have implemented ticket exchanges powered by Ticketmaster because they want ticket resale to be a secure experience, not an opportunity for scalping and fraud." StubHub and Ticketmaster have battled over this issue since 2006, with Ticketmaster trying to protect its resale business and StubHub arguing against regulating ticket resellers. StubHub maintains tickets are the property of the consumer and can be bought, sold, and transferred at their discretion.